FLEXIBLE CLEANING TOOL
A cleaning tool comprises a soft, flexible body. A resilient backbone is located inside of the flexible body. The backbone may be insert molded in the body. The backbone may be formed of a plurality of branches where the branches extend from a center core to the edge of the body. The backbone may be formed with an arched shape in its undeformed state such that the body has an arched shape in its undeformed state and a cleaning surface of the body has a concave shape such that pressure may be applied to the body opposite the cleaning surface to flatten out the body. The body may have a first straight edge and an opposite convex edge where the concave edge may terminate at a corner having an acute included angle. The backbone may be pivotably connected to a handle.
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This application claims benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to the filing date of to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/040,033, as filed on Mar. 27, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates generally to cleaning tools and, more particularly, to a flexible cleaning tool suitable for use as a wiping, cleaning, mopping or scrubbing tool.
BACKGROUNDCleaning tools such as mops are known comprising an elongated handle that is attached to a cleaning tool head at a pivot joint. The cleaning tool head may include a base and a removable pad that can be replaced or cleaned after use. The pad may comprise a variety of materials suitable for cleaning or dusting a surface. Flexible cleaning tool heads are also known that allow the cleaning tool head to deform when cleaning shaped surfaces. Other cleaning tools such as dusters and brushes are also known.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA cleaning tool comprises a soft, flexible body. A resilient backbone is located inside of the flexible body. The backbone may be insert molded in the body. The backbone may be formed of a plurality of branches where the branches extend from a center core to the edge of the body. The backbone may be formed with an arched shape in its undeformed state such that the body has an arched shape in its undeformed state and a cleaning surface of the body has a concave shape such that pressure may be applied to the body opposite the cleaning surface to flatten out the body. The body may have a first straight edge and an opposite concave edge where the concave edge may terminate at a corner having an acute included angle. The backbone may be pivotably connected to a handle.
An embodiment of the cleaning tool of the invention is shown generally at 1 in the figures and comprises a cleaning tool head 2 connected to a handle 4 such that the handle can pivot relative to the cleaning tool head. The handle 4 is shown as a relatively short elongated member adapted to be attached to a handle extension; however, handle 4 may be made as a full length handle fixed to cleaning tool head 2. In the illustrated embodiment the handle 4 has an axially extending internal receptacle 6 that is sized and shaped to receive a mating handle extension. Handle 4 is formed with through holes 8 that communicate the internal receptacle 6 with the exterior of the handle. Locking members on the handle extension may engage the holes 8 to lock the handle extension to the handle 4. In one embodiment the locking members comprise spring loaded members that are extended to engage the holes 8 and are retracted to disengage from holes 8.
The handle 4 is pivotably secured to the cleaning tool head 2 such that the cleaning tool head can pivot about two axes relative to the handle 4. A knuckle 10 extends from the top surface of cleaning tool head 2 as will hereinafter be described. A hinge member 12 engages knuckle 10 such that hinge member 12 can pivot relative to knuckle 10 about axis A-A (
The cleaning tool head 2 is a generally flexible member comprising a resilient backbone 22 surrounded by an outer soft, flexible body 20. The outer body 20 of the cleaning tool head being made of a flexible, low durometer material such as closed cell EVA foam, EVA foam, elastomer, rubber or other relatively soft flexible material. The backbone 22 is located inside of the body and comprises a resilient material that is able to flex under the application of a force and return to its original shape once the force is removed. The backbone may be made of nylon, spring steel, resilient plastic such as polystyrene or other resilient material. In one embodiment a backbone 22 of nylon is insert molded into the body 20 during molding of the body 20 such that the body and backbone form an integral unit. The backbone 22 may be provided with nubs 23 to ensure that the backbone 22 remains centered vertically within the body 20 during the injection molding process. The body 20 may also be made in sections with the backbone 22 located between the sections after the sections are formed. The sections may then be bonded, fused or adhered to one another to complete the cleaning tool head 2. While the backbone 22 is shown being located entirely internally of the body 20 it is possible that portions of the backbone 22 may be exposed or the entire backbone 22 may be exposed and bonded to the top of body 20 as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
The cleaning tool head 2, being formed of a flexible body and a resilient backbone 22 is also able to deform when pressed against curved surfaces, such as a bath tub or the like, and to return to its original shape when pressure is removed from the cleaning tool head. The edges of head 2 can flex up such that the cleaning tool head can clean in corners or the like. The structure of the cleaning tool head 2 allows the cleaning tool head to flex without the edges bowing over time or after repeated use.
The cleaning tool head 2 has a shape particularly suited to cleaning. Referring to
One or more socks may be fit over the head 2 for particular cleaning applications. The socks may include microfiber material such as a standard pile microfiber, a window cleaning microfiber or a scrubber microfiber. Other materials may also be used on the socks.
Specific embodiments of an invention are described herein. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention has other applications in other environments. In fact, many embodiments and implementations are possible. The following claims are in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention to the specific embodiments described above.
Claims
1. A cleaning tool comprising:
- a flexible body;
- a resilient backbone insert molded inside of said flexible body.
2. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the body is made of a low durometer material.
3. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the body is made of EVA foam.
4. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the body is made of rubber.
5. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the backbone is located entirely inside of the body.
6. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the backbone comprises a resilient material that is able to flex under the application of a force and return to its original shape once the force is removed.
7. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the backbone is made of nylon.
8. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the backbone is made of spring steel.
9. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the backbone is made of plastic.
10. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the backbone is provided with nubs that position the backbone relative to the body.
11. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the backbone is exposed.
12. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the backbone is formed of a plurality of branches.
13. The cleaning tool of claim 12 wherein the body includes an edge and at least one of the plurality of branches extend from a center core to the edge of the body.
14. The cleaning tool of claim 12 wherein at least one branch of said plurality of branches extends to a corner of the body.
15. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the backbone is formed with an arched shape in its undeformed state such that the body has an arched shape in its undeformed state.
16. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein a cleaning surface of the body has a concave shape.
17. The cleaning tool of claim 16 wherein pressure may be applied to the body opposite the cleaning surface to flatten the body.
18. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein said body has a first straight edge and an opposite convex edge.
19. The cleaning tool of claim 18 wherein the concave edge terminates at a corner having an acute included angle.
20. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the backbone is connected to a knuckle.
21. The cleaning tool of claim 20 wherein said knuckle protrudes from the body.
22. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the body includes corners and the backbone is shaped to provide even pressure at the corners of the body when the body is flattened.
23. The cleaning tool of claim 20 wherein a handle is connected to said knuckle such that the handle can pivot about two axes.
24. The cleaning tool of claim 23 wherein the two axes are perpendicular to one another.
25. The cleaning tool of claim 23 wherein said handle includes an internal receptacle that is sized and shaped to receive a mating handle extension.
26. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the backbone is formed with an upside down V shape in its undeformed state.
27. A cleaning tool comprising:
- a soft, flexible body;
- a resilient backbone having an undeformed state and located at least partially inside of said flexible body, said backbone being able to flex to a deformed state under the application of a force and return to the undeformed state upon removal of the force, said backbone being formed with an arched shape in its undeformed state such that the body has an arched shape where a cleaning surface of the body has a concave shape such that pressure may be applied to the body opposite the cleaning surface to flatten the body.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 25, 2009
Publication Date: Oct 1, 2009
Applicant: RUBBERMAID COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS, LLC (Winchester, VA)
Inventors: Ashley Perry Zang Wentz Pho (Winchester, VA), Stephen M. Batsa (Stephens City, VA)
Application Number: 12/410,901
International Classification: A47L 13/10 (20060101);